Statue of Sybil Ludington on the Banks of Lake Glenida in Carmel, New York. Designed by Anna Hyatt
Sybil Ludington (1761-1839) was the daughter of a commander in the Dutchess County militia (Col. Henry Ludington) during the American Revolutionary War. At only 16 years old, she was noted by her father's biography to have ridden her trusty horse (allegedly called Star) 40 miles into current day Connecticut, warning the militia members that the British army was preparing to attack. On April 26th, 1777, Sybil received the news that the British were coming by a messenger, who had come to warn her father that his militia was needed to equip the troops of General Gold Selleck Silliman. Colonel Ludington sent his daughter to ride throughout the county, rounding up soldiers for battle. Her ride was about 40 miles, mapped in the 1820s by the Daughters of the American Revolution, much longer than Paul Revere's ride, which is much more often spoken about. She was a powerful war hero that played an important role in the fight for American independence, but unfortunately, her story is not often spotlighted.
Statue of Sybil Ludington on the Banks of Lake Glenida in Carmel, New York. Designed by Anna Hyatt
Anna Strong (1740-1812) was a spy for General Washington's Culper Spy Ring, which was based on Long Island, New York during the American Revolution. The Culper Spy Ring was in operation spanning from 1778 and 1783, its headquarters in New York City. Anna Strong's role as a spy working for the organization was to relay messages to Caleb Brewster, who would then pass the information on to Col. Tallmadge via the Long Island Sound. Specifically, Anna would bring out her laundry at a spot on the bank where Brewster would see it. Details of the coloring and amounts of clothing gave hints about messages and meetings. Strong found her own ways to participate in the Patriot Army and fight for her country's independence when women were not allowed to openly take action.
Documentation of Culper Spy Ring Code
Harriet Tubman (1822 - 1913) was an Black American woman, born into slavery who escaped to freedom and devoted the rest of her life to the fight for abolition and rights for Black Americans. She was not only the conductor of the Underground Railroad, a system of people and places aiding enslaved black people in their efforts to escape to freedom, but a spy for the Union Army during the American Civil War. She originally enlisted in the military as a nurse, caring for Union soldiers, but soon became a scout in 1863. In this position, she rounded up and established a group of spies, composed of enslaved African Americans that were willing to get directly involved in the war effort. She and her group led raids of plantations to free enslaved people. For instance, in 1863, she became the first American woman to lead a military raid by collaborating with Colonel James Montgomery to organize the Cohambee River Raid in South Carolina. Her efforts were widely successful, liberating over 750 enslaved people. Tubman risked her life countless times to fight for the freedom of others.
Harriet Tubman
Elizabeth "Crazy Bet" Van Lew (1818-1900) was a wealthy white woman, born into a family that owned enslaved black people in Richmond, Virginia. She was educated in Philadelphia and through her experience, became a profound abolitionist. After her father died in 1843, she and her mother freed the enslaved people that belonged to the family, keeping some as servants. One servant was Mary Bowser (1839-1867), who was educated by Van Lew. Elizabeth Van Lew went on to lead a Union spy ring during the Civil War, gathering information from within the Confederate Whitehouse itself. She started by secretly bringing food and necessities to Union soldier held prisoners at the white house, garnering information during her visits. Many freed African Americans were crucial to her spy ring, including Mary bowser. Bowser posed as a servant in the Whitehouse, where she gathered information about confederate plans and operations from documents and other important items lying around. Together, they assisted the Union army, leading to their victory in the war and the emancipation of countless Black Americans.
Mary Bowser
Elizabeth Van Lew
The Van Lew Mansion
Virginia Hall (1906-1982) was born in Baltimore, Maryland. She was an adventurous foreign service worker, called the "Limping Lady" due to her hunting accident in Turkey, causing her to lose her left leg from the knee down. When the 2nd World War broke out, she became a member of the ambulance corps in France, but after the country fell to Nazi occupation, she traveled to England. There, she would play an important role in the SOE (Special Operations Executive). She was stationed by the SOE in France in 1941, where she would work undercover for the Resistance. She posed as a reporter for the New York Post, allowing her to interview people and gather important information freely. Her espionage work included organizing circuits and contacts within the agency and helping escaping Allied soldiers find their way back to combat. The soldiers were instructed to make their way to London and ask for Virginia under her code name, Oliver. Hall was the only civilian woman to receive the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II, a major accomplishment that honored her bravery and skill as an undercover war hero.
Logo of the Special Operations Executive
Virginia Hall with Gen. William Donovan, Receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, 1945
Josephine Baker (1906-1975) had many lives. She was not only an African American woman of French ancestry that became a star of the Harlem Renaissance, but lived a secret life as a spy for the French Resistance in World War II. When the second World War broke out, Baker was living in France. After the country declared war on Nazi Germany, Josephine began to raise money for the Allied army. Her fame as a singer and dancer allowed her to travel throughout Europe, gaining the trust of Axis Powers officials in nightclubs and functions, all while gaining secret information about their plans and movements. In addition to her nightclub espionage, Josephine hid members of the French Resistance in her own house. This was eventually discovered by German officials, leading to her exile from France, after which she moved to Lisbon, Portugal to continue her intelligence work for the Resistance. Josephine made waves not only with her risqué and controversial stage presence as a black woman in the performance industry, but with her skill and dedication to the protection of her countries, both America and France. She received the Croix De Guerre, the Rosette De La Resistance and the National Order of the Legion of Honor by Charles de Gaulle, a French military leader in 1945 for her outstanding work in World War II.
Portrait of Josephine Baker, Paris, 1949.